Title: The Bonds of Life
Genre: Adventure, Friendship.
Characters: OC, Jaune A., Team RWBY., Team JNPR.
Desc: Post-Salem AU. In a secret past, 'The Rusted Knight' had slain the great Evil Witch Salem with no one else the wiser; Not Ozpin, not RWBY, and not (J)NPR. They were all left wondering what they should now become. Now in the present, a young girl navigates the world her Rusted Knight of an uncle had sacrificed in silence so much for his beloved friends… one that barely needed them.
A/N Again, I'm glad people seem to enjoy this. Thank you for reading, and I hope you continue to enjoy! J
ust a little note, I'd say the AU is going to be more prevalent at around the end of the chapter. I also tried to make this a bit shorter, but sadly, seems I couldn't make it. Not a lot of things in terms of plot, but a lot in terms of character progression.
Next chapter's gonna focus more on Akane. This one's all Jaune's, baby.
And as for review responses, here they are!
To PSYCONIG, yeah, Jaune's bummed out about the expulsion, but there's a bit more than that. I mean, he waged a silent war too, and more than that, the expulsion meant getting separated by friends he loved a ton. Not to mention the tolls that war had on his mind, the people he had to bury. And he feels like it's his fault… combined with the expulsion, how could he not feel like his friends could've done better? Not getting the chance to talk again doesn't really give one a chance to heal too, right? Anyway, the point of his whole journey is overcoming his weaknesses, and for him that's mostly emotional…
To SaucyHandles, thank you, I appreciate it! And I agree, had it been anyone else other than Yang, then they probably wouldn't recognize him – sans Pyrrha, of course. But Yang's always been the most outgoing of them all, and she's smarter than she looks. Most of this chapter is building up the 'threat', the antagonist of the story, that will inevitably pull Jaune back into action; even if said antagonist doesn't know it. And I do try to portray the awkwardness here a bit, such as when Yang doesn't know what she can and can't say. Thanks for reading and I hope you like this one!
To Zanri, I'm glad you liked it; thanks for reading!
With that out of the way, let's get into this!
Chapter 3: The Heart's Calls
Simple actions often had rippling consequences. For example, a single second of delay might cause someone to get caught in a traffic jam they otherwise would've missed. And often, the worst of the effects that are caused aren't felt by the preparator at all. That was the power of a single change, it was how the world worked.
So, was it any wonder that the world rapidly changed when one of its constants had been changed?
A grunt barged into the room where his boss sat with his hands crossed. "B-Boss, we-we-!"
The boss raised a hand, and the grunt immediately shut his mouth. "Judging from the bruises you're sporting; I'm guessing the robbery went wrong?" The boss asked.
"Y-Yeah!" The grunt furiously nodded. "This- this girl came outta nowhere and beat the crap out of us!"
"A little girl?" The boss chuckled. "Feh. You all really are the north side of useless."
The grunt whimpered as the boss began to stand up. "B-Boss…!"
"Shut." The boss commanded, and so the grunt did. He was frozen in place as his superior moved closer and closer, his sheer presence overwhelming him.
"This will delay our plans further, just so you know." The boss smiled sweetly. "And I don't appreciate setbacks of any kind."
"B-Boss, please-!"
"Did I say you could talk?"
"I-…!"
"You what, you thought? That is not what I hired you for." The boss spat. "In fact…"
The boss laid a hand on the grunt's head and squeezed. "I think it's about time I relieve you of your duty."
The grunt whimpered in fear. "B-boss, wait, please-AAAAAAAAAAAAHHHHHHH!"
His screams echoed the room as the boss continued to squeeze. And as time went on, the room began to glow a vibrant violet the boss absorbed the very essence of this grunt's life. His soul, his light, his Aura, even though it wasn't unlocked… all were absorbed as he continued to squeeze.
Eventually, the screams died down as the grunt was reduced to nothing but a husk. With a satisfied smirk and a reinvigorated sigh, he threw the husk of a corpse away and smiled in content.
"Ah… nothing like a good meal before turning in for the night." The man stretched his arms and turned back to his seat, pulling out several files and beginning to work.
Behind him, the words "LIFE Group" were written in bold blue capital signs. And on his table, his name sign was written in clear violet letters.
Mic Grey
CEO of the LIFE Group
Mic tsked as he pulled out his tablet and examined the failed robbery. Which of course he had known beforehand. What surprised him was the gall of that grunt coming to face him, as if he himself had lacked information. Honesty, what was his plan…?
Well, it didn't matter. He was dead and had also been a good pick-me-up. A double win.
Back to the point, though. He examined the robbery and the girl who had stopped it. She showed tremendous skill, both in direct combat and in situational awareness. And most of all, for a fifteen-year-old to not show any signs of being scared…?
He remembered the name that some of his information networks had given him. One Enko Akane…
He chuckled to himself as he continued to look at how this went down. But most of all, he narrowed his eyes at how Akane had so easily controlled her own Aura. Every strike was a masterpiece. Every punch, every kick, it all contained the perfect amount of Aura.
He squinted his eyes as the little girl was finally stopped by a famous, red-scythed Huntress. She he could recognize, the stunning Ruby Rose of Beacon, leader of RWBY.
Then again, this little girl seemed familiar… and for her to be approached so easily by Ruby Rose…
Mic chuckled to himself. "Looks like this year's going to get interesting…"
For The LIFE Group's objective was clear as day in its name: to protect and ensure life across Remnant. Plants or animals, humans or faunus, all life was sacred and had to be protected.
But at the same time, nature also had its rules. The corpse of an animal worked greatly as a fertilizer. The fruits of labor that plants bore provided sources of energy for the animals which consume it. Humans could ensure the survivability of endangered species. In turn, animals would then protect mankind from aggressive creatures that threaten them. Sometimes, to ensure that life prospered, sacrifices had to be made.
And Aura, as it currently stood, was the most unnatural form of life. Its mere existence directly implied combat. Combat incited death, the direct opposite of life. It implied a degree of combat that was simply unneeded. It incited conflicts that have no need, incited humanity and faunuskind to step above their station. It turned them unnaturally strong, with power to manipulate their very surroundings via Semblances.
It pushed humans and faunus alike over their station.
And now, without the Grimm, it was his objective, his dream, to put them all back where they belonged. To put nature back on track, no matter who he had to cross.
Come Huntsmen and Huntresses, come anyone else, come Ozpin himself, none would stop him. He alone would restore the world to how it should be.
Mic grinned, flexing his hands in the night.
This was the realization he came to when he found that small, almost unassuming puddle of darkness during his service with the Expansion Corps, when he felt himself drawn to it… when he dipped his hand into it and felt his destiny being chosen.
He knew not what the emblem in his hand meant, knew not how it was able to absorb a soul and one's Aura too. He knew not the meaning behind the eerily eye-shaped emblem etched on his hand, the way it seemed so similar to the Grimm…
The way he felt like he had another voice in his head, the way a voice that named itself the Queen of Darkness called upon him in his dreams…
All that he knew was that the world needed balance. Aura was light…
And where there was light, Salem said instilled in him that there also needed to be darkness.
He was dying.
There was no other way to put it. His Aura was shot, his legs were broken, and the cuts in his body and arm were bleeding all over. Jaune bit back a curse as he tried to move despite it all.
A part of Jaune felt regret that this was the way he was going to go. In the middle of a village ruin that he had been too late to save, way out in Mistral without anyone knowing where he was. And most of all, dying knowing that he had been played.
Because there was no mission, in reality, no urgent people that needed saving; the village had already been razed when he came. Bandit tribe members and Grimm had been standing side-by-side, the flames of innocent deaths surrounding them. He didn't know how or why they had been so in the first place, only knowing that they had been waiting for him and engaged him as one.
And through that fight that he had barely survived through, Jaune had caught snippets of information. Information that tribe members had let slip in their cockiness, spontaneous words that came out in the heat of the moment and their anger.
That Headmaster Lionheart had organized this himself. That he had used these tribe members often, giving them partial control over the Grimm to thin out the Huntsmen and Huntress population of Mistral. To betray his very own kin. For what, Jaune didn't know.
It was only the miracle that Jaune had trained first in those less-than-reputable tournaments that he was able to take them all on. Had he been the same lad that left Beacon, had he not taken the time to improve himself before he met Headmaster Lionheart… he would've been as good as dead.
Well, technically, he really was now. No use denying the truth…
Jaune could do nothing but collapse as his body gave out under him. He gasped as he felt his vision darken. He regretted the fact that he couldn't inform anyone else in Haven, couldn't tell them that Headmaster Lionheart was betraying them.
He regretted the fact that he would have to break his word. All because he was too weak…
If his Team and friends were here, they wouldn't have laid dying like he was. They would've been able to march back to Haven and save the day…
But then, a high-pitched cry broke his thoughts. A cry that was getting louder and louder, growing into a sob and a wail… a cry that sounded an awful lot like a little girl's.
Jaune's breath hitched. The earlier threats of passing out suddenly left him, a new energy flowing through his veins as he struggled to stand back up. Was there- was there a survivor?
Was there someone that needed saving…?!
"Grk!" Jaune forced his body to get up, standing on broken feet and shuffling closer and closer to the source of the cry. He was sure now – that was a little girl's voice!
"Waaaahhh!"
"H-Hold on…!" Jaune bit out. With each agonizing step he waded through the rubble and ruin, stepped above the bodies and smoking Grimm corpses that he had left. Eventually, Jaune came upon the broken-down remnants of- of an orphanage, its pillars crushed and its walls singed with black soot.
And yet, before its ruined entrance, a young girl sobbed, a girl who seemed to barely be a toddler. Jaune gasped as he saw her breaking down in front of what must've been the bodies of her former friends and caretakers. She had her face in her hands as her body shook, either from sadness or the coldness of the night air or maybe both.
Jaune took a cautious step forward. The sound knocked the girl out of her thoughts. She turned around with wide, fearful eyes and fell on her butt. She crawled back with her arms in front of her, tear-stained cheeks being the first thing that Jaune noticed.
"S-stay back…!" The girl whispered. "P-Please, mister… d-don't kill me…!"
And Jaune felt his heart clench, his brotherly instincts taking hold as he quickly sheathed his weapons. A new flame lit beneath his heart, rage and spirit bursting forth as he looked at this girl – at this innocent soul that Leonardo had harmed!
"I'm not here to hurt you." Jaune said in his best calming tone. He took a knee – oh, how it hurt to move! – and approached the girl with open, reassuring arms. "I'm…"
'Jaune Arc.' The failure of a Beacon student, a disgrace that had been sure that he would die here.
'the Rusted Knight.' An alias he had begun using in those tournaments, something to shield himself from his shame. A title that he hadn't known would end up being a reality, being manifested as his destiny from the tales.
'A Huntsman.' Yeah right, a real Huntsman would've been able to take down those Grimm and bandits no problem.
"…I'm the one who's gonna get you out of here." Jaune settled on. It was the truth; for he may not have been anything else, but he would get her out of here. He would save this life, make sure she was okay, forever and after.
That, he was willing to give his word to.
Jaune's eyes went to the girl's appearance. Red eyes and blond hair, her body small and frail and malnourished, shivering from the cold that her tattered and thin clothes barely shielded her from. And to a nametag that was almost totally covered in dirt, just barely legible.
A nametag with words that Jaune instantly memorized.
And with it, Jaune gained a new will to live. A new reason to keep going… another person he swore to protect.
"Come on, Akane." Jaune said with his best caring tone. "…I'll keep you safe."
Jaune didn't so much as wake up as he did open his eyes.
Years of living on the road had trained him to be ultra-vigilant to his surroundings. That also meant being a light sleeper, waking up with minimal surprises, and being constantly combat-ready. So it was to no surprise that when he woke up, his eyes immediately went to the woman in the sleeping bag across from him, speaking to her Scroll with hushed tones.
"Yes, yes, I know, I'm just going to be a little late is all-!"
Mumble mumble….
"Hey, don't go blaming me, it's not my fault nothing's shown up-!"
Mumble mumble….
And Yang sighed heavily into her Scroll. "Just… just get me a replacement bike by the time I get to the next village, alright? I'll go in for a report as soon as I come back."
Mumble mumble….
Yang's eyes narrowed. "I get that it's getting busy. But I deserve a vacation; this was my vacation, and I'm calling in to extend it by a few days, maybe even a week or two."
Mumble mumble….
"Fine. Yeah. End of story. Yang out."
Click! Yang hung up her scroll and ran her hands through her face. "Ugh…."
It never ceased to amaze her how inflexible some people were. She knew she was needed in Vale, knew that she needed to give in her monthly reports. But she had done this for years now, and this year was her first one taking her patrols around Remnant a lot more leisurely.
She deserved a break, dammit – she didn't plan for her bike to get trashed, and she certainly didn't expect for even more important matters to take her attention!
"Ehem." A cough interrupted Yang's thoughts, and she felt her cheeks flush in embarrassment when she saw Jaune levelling her with a questioning stare.
Yang rubbed the back of her neck in embarrassment. "Um, how much did you hear…? Heheh…"
"Enough to wake me up." Jaune stretched his muscles and sighed. "Ahh… You sounded a bit pissed there."
"Yeah, that's mostly 'cause I wasn't planning on being called in at seven in the morning!" Yang groaned as she pocketed her Scroll again. "Gosh, some people…"
"From the sound of it, you need to get to Vale quickly." Jaune said. "Sure I'm not slowing you down?"
"Pfft. Hardly." Yang brushed away a lock of hair and scowled at her pocketed Scroll. "If anything, some people just can't appreciate greatness taking her time."
"Well, you can go tell some people that you were seeing the sights. Just… keep my name out of it." Jaune said back.
"Yeah." Yang muttered, her tone tinted with a slight hesitation. "I'll… do that."
"Thanks." Jaune said earnestly. He got up and began rolling up his sleeping bag, talking some more in an attempt to steer the topic to more cheerful areas.
"I think the nearest village is around a three hour walk." Jaune said with a smile, "Hey, 'least we'll get a new bike soon, right?"
"Hm. I made sure to order one that has two seats. Not a sidecar, though. Hate those things."
"Hm…" Jaune finished packing everything up around the same time Yang got everything ready too. "So… time to head out?"
"Yeah…"
Jaune and Yang shared a small nod, and then, with the sun just starting to rise, both set off on their way to the next village. And throughout the journey, and even earlier when he had just woken up, Jaune didn't miss the way Yang was irritated and a bit more distant.
That was fair; they had spent years apart, and Jaune didn't expect to immediately jump in like nothing had changed. That was too much to hope for, that was something he had to work for.
But it wasn't as if Yang had been pushing him away. She still had spoken in a hushed tone when he was asleep, had ordered a bike that could fit two. She was still being considerate for him… perhaps the deadline for being in Vale thing was just rubbing her nerves the wrong way.
And so Jaune said as much. "Hey, Yang. Whatever happens, I hope at least the pay in Vale is good, alright?"
And Yang had laughed, and stilted as it may be, it was still honest.
"They better be, VB." Yang smiled back at him, "After all, sleeping in the wilds like that was un-bear-able!"
Jaune rolled his eyes, a fond twitch of his lips just visible on his face. "You and your puns… after all these years, they still suck."
"Hey!" But Yang had punched his arm jokingly, and she lost the irritation she had shown earlier in the morning. Jaune responded with a chuckle, and soon the walk became not so bad.
Just a bit more, just a little before they could go at a much better pace than walking. And despite it all, Jaune was looking forward to it. Looking forward to enjoying the moment. He only hoped that Yang felt the same.
After all, he was starting to feel like enjoying himself, truly soaking in the moment, wasn't so bad. It wasn't like they were chasing an evil that threatened the world, after all.
The world was at peace, from what little he knew of it and what Cinder had let him in on. So… perhaps enjoying the moment wouldn't be that bad.
Despite what many people believed, Yang wasn't a meathead nor a just another dumb buxom blonde. No, that was just the image she liked to portray herself as. What Yang prided herself on, other than her nearly unmatched strength, was her emotional smarts.
She liked to think of herself knowing when to push and when to pull, when to give and when to take. It was how she deduced who Jaune was. Sure, he might seem different, and his skills may have been exponentially better than they were before, but so many of his clues and tells were still the same.
His gaze. His vibe. The way his eyes looked at her and anything he cared about, the way his voice lowered slightly whenever he wasn't confident in himself, the uniquely his way of going to comfortable and familiar topics whenever the conversation moved to somewhere he didn't want it to be.
And moreover, she had recognized that Jaune was hurting, that he wasn't confident in himself, that something was holding him back. And seeing that, understanding that, Yang knew how to approach; she said what she said, she had smiled like she once had, and overall did her best to emulate how she was the last time they saw each other. But still, infusing parts of herself that had matured as time had gone on.
It wasn't emotional manipulation! She did genuinely want Jaune to be happy. He was her friend, and that was enough. Besides, what was it that he always said? Strangers and friends and all that?
But after that phone call, Yang harbored some new doubts. New concerns that plagued her mind, worries that had caused her to be a bit standoff-ish when Jaune woke up.
After all, how was someone supposed to tell their long-lost friend that there was an evil Grimm Witch that was threatening to destroy all of Remnant?
Yang did her best to smile and laugh along Jaune as they walked, doing everything to put the worry of Salem and her agents in the back of her mind. That was what she had been doing all these years; what she had taken a vacation for.
Patrolling Remnant for any sign of the Grimm Queen called Salem, keeping an eye out for any of the witch's agents. Signaling back to Beacon if any Grimm activity were to be found, making sure they were ready for whatever Salem's next moves even were.
After all, what else could the Grimm disappearing be, other than Salem preparing for a massive, unprecedented attack?
She sighed internally as her mind inevitably went down memory lane. RWBY and what remained of JNPR – though they absolutely refused to change their name – had been 'inducted' so to speak, during their third year. At that time, Ozpin had told them everything there was to know; the Maidens, the four Relics, who Salem really was, how long he had been fighting for… everything regarding the secret war that had waged for thousands of years in Remnant.
And when they heard that, they agreed and had been ready to fight. Ready to protect Vale and everyone they loved, ready to stop Salem from destroying the world. Ready to devote their lives to something greater, ready to fight the good fight.
And yet, a scant few months later, the Grimm had totally disappeared.
It didn't make any sense, even to Ozpin himself – the only possible explanation was that Salem was preparing something big, that she was recalling every Grimm she had for one massive attack. And so, they had trained too, had prepared everything for the worst possible strike they could ever conceive.
But that was a decade ago.
And to this day, nothing had come.
And now, Yang was 29 years old and had grown tired of preparing for something that never came. But that wasn't to say that she, that they, didn't know the risks. They kept in shape, were still at the ready, kept an eye out. It was just her that felt like she needed a break… but she knew she needed to deal with the problem at some point. They all knew.
The problem was, how exactly do you break something like that to someone like Jaune? To a long-lost, somewhat traumatized, and self-admitted retired friend?
She didn't want to burden him with that kind of weight, not when he was only now reaching out to them. When it was taking him everything he had to just try to reconnect.
And there were other things that were pressing on her too. Salem wasn't the only threat that was present, because people were people and there would always be conflict between them. A group of 'advocates' called the LIFE Group, a Mistralian organized protection company called the Gokudo, the ever-expanding Expansion Corps, and of course the Huntsmen and Huntresses… there were many factions, new and old. And many factions also meant many oppositions, many small conflicts.
She was sure Jaune had heard of them – he must've! But he hadn't brought them up yet, and she won't be the one to bring down the mood. Not when doing so would only make him worried sick for his daughter.
And so, when they finally reached the village, Yang did her best to hide that fact of her life, that fact of all their lives.
Jaune didn't deserve to know that, to shoulder that burden with them. He had seen enough, even if she didn't know what those were… and wasn't keeping Remnant happy and safe the entire reason they agreed to fighting with Ozpin in the first place?
If they dragged Jaune into this when he was barely functional, they'd be missing the entire point of their fight in the first place.
They soon entered the village proper, and Yang and Jaune quickly went to a garage that had been instructed to give Yang her new vehicle. She met the dealer and shook his hand, though her eyes shone with a bright hint of 'Don't talk about Ozpin or his shit in front of me right now.'
And thankfully, the dealer was smart enough to get her message.
"Ah, Ms. Xiao-Long, was it?" The dealer said with a smile. "I take it you're here for the CX500-R that was just reserved?"
"Yeah, that." Yang wasn't particularly keen on whatever model she got – if it worked, then it would be enough. Nothing would ever quite live up to Bumblebee anyway, and that was exactly why she kept it back in Patch, safe and sound and snug. "Is it fueled up and ready to go?"
"Yes, it is, Miss." The dealer nodded. He stepped to the side and presented her with the bike, brand-spanking new with a shining yellow finish. Its seats were big too; certainly, enough to fit two people.
And yet, the dealer's eyes wandered to her friend, his eyebrows raised in question. "Though, I certainly wasn't informed that you'd be bringing someone else along."
"That's none of your business." Yang said curtly.
"On the contrary, it is my business." The dealer insisted. "I make my business on repeat customers, Ms. Xiao-Long, and even I have to report back."
Yang bit the inside of her cheek. That was true, and if she knew Ozpin, he'd get his hands on the information anyway. Problem was, this really was nothing he had to worry about; now how could she go about not mentioning this…?
Jaune stood by Yang's side and saw the distress his friend was in. Acting as natural as possible, Jaune gave the dealer a smile and offered his hand. "The name's June Pier. It's nice to meet you, Mister…"
"Diaz." The dealer answered, and he took Jaune's hand and gave it a firm shake. "And, if it's not any problem, may I see an ID…?"
"Sure." Jaune pulled back and showed Diaz his ID, the man giving it a good glance. And after that, he returned it to Jaune with the same smile he gave before.
"Very well. I simply had to confirm who was whom, after all. Can't go around selling bikes to strangers." Diaz said. He stepped back and gave them a cursory bow, "And with that, my business is finished. Enjoy the bike, Ms. Xiao-Long, Mr. Pier. As always, it's a pleasure to do business with him."
And with that, Diaz stepped out the garage, leaving Jaune and Yang with the bike and their thoughts.
Yang gave Jaune a raised eyebrow and a smirk. "…Fake ID?"
"Eh. Something like that." Jaune said. He pocketed his wallet and shrugged, "It'll check out if anyone wants to run it through. Hundred-percent guarantee."
'I hope it is, for your sake. Ozpin can be persistent.' And the less said about the last time Jaune faked something in front of Beacon's headmaster, the better. Yang rolled her shoulders and climbed on the bike, turning it on and giving it a few revs.
Vroom vroom!
"Whoaaa!" Jaune covered his ears. "That's so louuuud!"
"Heheh! I know, right? It's awesome!" Yang grinned. One of her few constant requests whenever she went on a mission for Ozpin – she got a bike, one that could go fast, and it also always needed to have a straight pipe exhaust.
Or in layman's terms, it had to be loud and powerful. Just like she was!
Vroom vroom!
"Owh yeaahhh!" Yang laughed, and with a smile motioned Jaune to ride on behind her.
"Grk!" Jaune grimaced but complied. He felt her put a helmet on his head, herself following soon after. Jaune leaned over to Yang's shoulder and shouted over the noise, "I think we don't have to rush it! How about we take a ride around the village first, okay?!"
"Okay!" Vroom! Yang grinned as she heard Jaune groan behind her. "Let's get a feel of what this baby can do!"
The village wasn't all that big, and as such Yang didn't have that much road to 'get a feel' as she had claimed. Their speeds had been kept low, and the noise thankfully wasn't that assaulting to his ears. Though, perhaps that was much to Jaune's benefit.
Those were his thoughts as he and Yang parked before a small ramen shop, Yang having gone in first and Jaune catching his breath outside. With the next stop being around five hours away even by motorbike, they had both decided that it was best to catch brunch here before heading off to the next village.
Jaune groaned and felt the threat of vomit rise up, a threat he crushed with extreme prejudice.
Scratch that, it was definitely to his benefit.
With another breath, Jaune got off his knees and walked into the ramen shop and took the opposite seat on the table where Yang was. The place wasn't anything special, being quite small with a row of tables and seats that were empty, and had a TV bolted to the top edge of the restaurant. But Jaune did notice and appreciate the nice, homely atmosphere it had. The smell of the food certainly helped too, its sweet and tender aroma entering Jaune's nostrils the moment he stepped in.
It did little to quell his motion sickness, but he was thankful for what little mercy he could have.
Yang grinned when she saw his green face. "Still haven't gotten over that motion sickness of yours?"
"I would've been fine if you hadn't ridden like a maniac." Jaune sighed. He rolled her eyes fondly when she only laughed in response, "So? Any reason why you chose this hole-in-the-wall place?"
"'Cause it's cheap and the food's good. Cooking's fast, too- Oh, here it is!" Yang licked her lips as two bowls of ramen were placed in between them, their noodles thick and the broth thicker. When Jaune levelled a question glance at her, she shrugged. "Took the liberty of ordering for you too. Seemed like you were going to take your time outside, and, well…"
"Appreciated." Jaune nodded, smiling in thanks. They both took a pair of chopsticks and took their first slurps at the same time, and Jaune heard himself hum in delight as he swallowed.
"Not bad." Jaune smiled, "Not bad at all."
"Told ya, didn't I?" Yang slurped her noodles with a smirk. "This place's the best in these parts."
They continued like that for a while, and with no one else in the shop it allowed them to talk idle chatter as long as they had needed to. Time passed by faster than they both recognized, and it was as such that they found themselves still conversing even after the ramen had long been finished.
"…So yeah, that's how I found this place." Yang said, "…Bout five years ago, and I've been going ever since."
"And for good reason." Jaune nodded. "Won't hurt my finances too; and certainly not yours."
"Heh, talk about it. I'm just glad that I still get paid for what's basically a vacation." Yang put her hands behind her head and sighed in content.
"Speaking of… what exactly have you been doing these last few years?" Jaune asked. "I mean, I know you've been patrolling Mistral and all, but…"
At that, Yang looked away and laughed nervously. "Eheheh… yeah, about that… really, I've just been going around here and doing what odd jobs I can get. Security, escort, bodyguard… you'd be surprised how many opportunities open up with a good ol' Huntress' license."
"Really?" Jaune asked incredulously. "Then why do you need to go back to Vale?"
"Because I need to report to my boss." Yang sighed irritably. "And he really likes to keep tabs on people."
"…Huh." Jaune leaned back on his seat too. That didn't make sense, didn't Yang just say that she was a freelancer?
'Meh. It doesn't matter.' That slight irritation in her face when she mentioned her boss was genuine, and besides, who was he to be accusatory and poke holes in his friends' story? If it was honest living – and seeing RWBY in their first years, Jaune knew they'd never turn criminal – then it was enough.
Their conversation was interrupted, however, when the TV was turned on and began broadcasting the news. 'Must've been the shopkeeper…' Jaune thought.
And when the news blared to life, stealing both Yang and Jaune's attention, a familiar host spoke up with the latest happenings of their shared destination.
"This is Lisa Lavender from VNN, with breaking news from downtown Vale. Police were once more forced to break apart a demonstration by the LIFE group which had escalated to a riot, and then subsequently a wild melee. So far, Vale PD has arrested thirty protesters and forty belligerents that have been deemed responsible, though whether they will be charged or released soon is still unknown."
Yang clenched her teeth when she heard the news. "What a pain…"
"Hm?" Jaune looked to Yang. "You know those guys?"
"Wait, you don't…?" Yang looked back with wide eyes. "Damn, you're more out of it than I thought…."
"Hey-"
The news continued.
"The LIFE Group themselves had protested and advocated against the current state and presence of Aura users, demanding stricter control and monitoring over their activities. They also demanded the Aura locking of combatants who were no longer active, a demand that continues to run afoul with other groups, most prominently the Huntsmen community and the Gokudo organization from Mistral."
"Aura locking…" Jaune muttered. "That's a dangerous process. Why the hell would someone advocate for that?"
"Because someone thinks that Aura users are just too dangerous to control." Yang bit out. She didn't like them, Jaune noted, not one bit, if her glare at the screen was anything to go by.
And internally, Yang could only let out a long-suffering sigh. As if an evil queen wasn't enough, now humanity was fighting against each other.
The news continued once more. "Upon questioning of their motives and methods, The CEO of the LIFE group, Mic Grey, has given this to say. "Our acts are as noble as our cause. I stand by my compatriots and fully believe in them that they have not done anything in contempt of justice. After founding and expanding my business in Vale for almost a decade, I have full trust in Vale's justice system to determine the correct decision going forward." This response was met with some backlash, mainly from other factions such as the Expansion Corps and the Gokudo, however Mr. Grey has refused to give further comment."
Yang ran her hand over her face. "Trust in my compatriots my ass. You ordered them to start shit! You're just slick enough to hide the evidence."
"Yang…"
Yang looked to Jaune and sighed, softening her gaze. It must've been a shock to him, to see someone against the Huntsmen on principle. After all, weren't they always lauded as heroes? Wasn't that what they had been promised?
Come to think of it, wasn't that his reason of going to Beacon in the first place…?
She tried her best to calm Jaune down, his worried glance being something she didn't want to see. Her helping him out of his shell was a priority she knocked up to the highest order. "Don't worry, Jaune. They're just a bunch of thugs blowing hot air. Not any real threat."
"Hm…" Jaune gave her an uneasy nod and stared back to the screen. She could see his mind run a mile a minute, the worried glint in his eyes returning ever so slightly as the news continued broadcasting information regarding the LIFE Group.
The numerous protests they held, how so many of them often turned violent, and how they kept lobbying for what was essentially a collar around Aura users' throats. All because they had deemed them too hard to control, too wild, too unnatural to normal, well-functioning society.
A collar to a Huntress' throat. 'Akane…'
But Jaune calmed himself down. It wouldn't do to get himself worked up. He had to trust her, no matter how painful it was. She would overcome this, if it became a problem at all, and if nothing else he was sure his training would be enough to keep her safe; at least, until he reached her.
And it wasn't like Lisa hadn't laid out that they didn't have opponents. The Huntsmen, the Gokudo, grateful civilians, those who had seen the good they had done… there were others that didn't agree with them, and from the way Yang had been irritated, then he knew at least that no self-respecting Huntsman or Huntress would let themselves be controlled like that. This was nothing to get worked up over.
Calm down.
And besides, Cinder said that she'd deliver his message, and that meant that at least she'd be in Vale too. And from the way Lisa had mentioned the Gokudo opposing the LIFE Group, at least he had Cinder's reassurance – though not directly – that she was opposed to it as well.
The Gokudo, Cinder's organization that she formed after defeating Salem. Her way of controlling the power vacuum that had been left in Mistral… one that she had told Jaune before he left to take care of Akane.
An organization whose status she kept him updated with, though only barely. As far as he knew, they were just a protection company, employing some of the people he had come to know during his travels, after Salem's defeat…
Cinder had always was protective over her power, Jaune thought… and he was certain that was the reason she founded them; the reason she became its Chairwoman. Some things could never be changed, and Cinder would always yearn to hold power. That much, he knew; at least she was on their side now. He trusted her, now he only needed to trust that she could ward off Akane from anything too dangerous.
Calm down.
Everything would be fine. He had to stay relaxed. These were just protests, they weren't anything else. They weren't globe threatening evils; they were just people.
Calm down.
"Uh, Jaune…?"
"Yang…" Jaune turned back to her, his eyes just a tad bit sharper. "They… they haven't attacked you, have they?"
Screw it, he had to know.
And from the way Yang looked away, Jaune knew he wouldn't like the answer. "The LIFE Group… they were the one who attacked us yesterday."
"What…?"
"I know, right?" Yang chuckled mirthlessly. "Reckless… could've gotten themselves all killed. That's why I don't by the BS that they wouldn't cross the law. They've been harassing a ton of Huntsmen and Huntress these past few years, getting ballsy. But then… we can't exactly beat them down, can we?"
"Because it'd look bad on us…" Jaune realized.
"Exactly." Yang nodded. "All because they deem us too dangerous. Because they want us to be gone."
"But why?" Jaune whispered. "We haven't- haven't done anything wrong!"
"Apparently they don't see it that way." Yang sighed. "They keep pushing this narrative of theirs, and without the Grimm to fight – without a constant threat…"
And that, Jaune realized. "They're trying to say that we're useless…"
"Kinda the gist of it, but yeah." Yang did her best to smile. "Look, Jaune… don't worry about it, okay? They're just blowing hot air. We've still got a ton of people who support us, and it's not like we're robbing banks or holding up shops with our powers. We're saving people from thugs, we're protecting businesses, we're dismantling bandit tribes, we're still making the world a better place."
"…"
"Look… trust me, alright?" Yang leaned in. Her voice dropped to a whisper. It was clear that this was all a shock to him. She didn't know how he hadn't heard of this before, but now that he had, he was deeply disturbed by it. And she could also read that he was just itching to do something.
But she also felt that that itch would lead him to do something that he'd regret. Perhaps, even, lead him to leave again…?
No, she wouldn't have it. She had just gotten him back; he had just begun opening up… she hadn't even gotten to re-introducing him to everyone else yet.
"There's nothing to worry about. Please…?"
"Yang…" Jaune felt once more the urge to just do something. That urge had moved him to do a lot of things – killing Salem had been the biggest of it. Should he – should he move to solve the problem? Engage the enemy, save his friends, save his daughter? He can't possibly just stand by and watch!
But one look into Yang's eyes, and Jaune's resolve crumpled… for now. He realized in those eyes that she didn't want him to get involved. She wanted him to open up, to reconnect… to enjoy himself.
Jaune sighed and relented, though he knew he couldn't keep himself forever. One day, his insecurity mixed with his desperation and love, that fatal combination, all of it would come roaring back: for him and for others.
It was part of the reason why he had run away for so long…
…But hadn't he promised to finally see the world?
Calm down. He had promised. This wasn't anything to get worked up over.
This wasn't Salem. This wasn't.
Calm the fuck down.
"Alright." Jaune relented. And from the way Yang sighed in relief, the way her shoulders sagged, and how she leaned back in her seat, Jaune knew he made the right choice.
If this was what made his friend, his friends, happy, then so be it. 'When can I see you guys again…' Not like he'd have much going on, now.
"Ahhhhh!" Yang stretched her arms and sighed loudly, closing her eyes in delight, desperate to change the topic; though with a not so-subtle glare to the shopkeeper, she had him turn the TV off. "That was a damn good meal… you don't mind if I get some fresh air for a bit, do you Jaune?"
"No no, go right ahead." Jaune motioned Yang to go do as she pleased. He pulled out his wallet as she stood up, "I'll handle the payment while you get the bike ready."
"Eh, really?" Yang asked incredulously. "I mean, I don't mind paying for all this-!"
And yet Jaune just flashed her a grin. "You're not the only one with cash, Yang."
Yang paused. Then, she smirked as her eyes glinted mischievously. "Then I guess it's a good thing I brought you along. After all, what kind of man doesn't pay on the first date, ehhhh Jauney boyyy?"
Jaune blushed furiously. "Yaaaang!"
"Hehehehe! See you in a bit, Jauney!" And with a wave, Yang exited the Ramen shop and got to prepping the bike for their next trip.
All the while, Jaune could only shake his head fondly. "It's like she never changed…" With that, he got up and approached the cashier, pulling out his credit card and paying for both their meals. 'I was planning on doing that anyway…'
He enjoyed the time they spent together and looked forward to their future journey. Of course, he knew that at some point they'd split paths, but this time, it wouldn't be like he'd disappear forever. They'd exchange Scroll numbers, keep in contact, maybe even meet up…
Calm down. Yeah, maybe that wouldn't be so hard.
There was something that didn't bode well for his friends. Someone was messing around in Vale, people were targeting Huntsmen and Huntresses… he felt his breath hitch and his fists clench.
No, this was nothing to get worried over; some protesters didn't compare to an ancient evil. Didn't compare to the Grimm and everything else that it entailed.
'Focus, Jaune. Focus.' Jaune thought to himself. Remember the purpose of this all. See the world… see his friends… see what it had to offer. And along the way, visit Akane and ensure that his daughter was safe.
So what if there were more factions than he knew before? He could handle himself at least, and Yang was already here. Everything would be fine.
So wrapped up in his thoughts, Jaune was, that he didn't notice another, a new person, approach from behind him.
"Enjoying our benefits, are you?"
"Hm?" Jaune turned around and faced the man that had addressed him. He had tanned skin and jet-black sideswept hair, and he wore a black suit and pants with a pair of sunglasses. "And who might you be?"
The man's lips quirked; the ghost of a smile, Jaune noted. "I am your case handler, Mr. Arc."
"Case handler?" Jaune echoed. "What are you- ah. Did… did Cinder send you?"
"Correct." The man nodded. "You may call me Hanawa. Hanawa Kihei, of the Gokudo. Pleased to make your acquaintance."
Hanawa Kihei
Gokudo Case Handler
Jaune sighed. "Look. I understand that Cinder worries about me, but I can handle myself. There's no need for you guys to get involved."
"The state you left your house in proved otherwise."
"How do you even- ugh. Fine. Just don't meddle, alright? Why the hell did she even send a case handler from you guys…?"
"Because the Chairwoman has her own concerns regarding the world. And mor importantly, you." Hanawa said. He motioned Jaune to sit back down, and Jaume did so reluctantly.
"Tch. And how did you even find me, anyway?"
"We – that is, the Gokudo – have eyes everywhere. Especially in Mistral. We knew where you were the moment you stepped foot out of your house."
Jaune shivered. "That is… beyond creepy, man."
"It is simply how the Chairwoman likes us to cooperate." Hanawa said. "I'm sure you're familiar with who we are. The Chairwoman simply knows of your tendency to draw trouble. And most importantly… your willingness to help others above yourself."
"The world has changed, Mr. Arc. The world you saved… many of it for the better, but some… not so much. All she wants if for you to be prepared." Hanawa finished.
"I'm not hopeless, Hanawa."
"That wasn't what I insinuated. Our job here is to merely keep an eye on you, report back to her… and assist you should you need it. The Huntsmen, the LIFE Group, the Expansion Corps… you've seen the news. I am merely here to confirm that you remain safe."
"I am safe."
"And yet, you yourself admitted yesterday that you were rusty. That you would've had an easier time against those LIFE thugs had you stayed in shape; at least, that's what your face to Ms. Xiao-Long showed us." Hanawa's lips quirked when Jaune flinched. "The irony wasn't lost on anyone."
"Furthermore, our intel tells us that someone has ran your ID as of one hour ago. Everything checked out, of course… but that still poses some questions for us. Questions we're not allowed to have but are there all the same. And if you would allow me to voice my personal thoughts," Hanawa began at Jaune's silence, "I think that things are shaping up to a breaking point. And it's just a ticking time bomb."
"And you're saying I should intervene."
"I'm saying that things are not as calm as they seem." Hanawa stood up. "Cinder feels that her power is being threatened… but she insists that she can manage it herself. I, however, do not; but I am under her command, under your command. She makes sure that we all know who you are… what you were... saviour."
Hanawa put a hand on Jaune's shoulder. "All you need is ask. The Gokudo will always keep an eye out for you, as you did the Chairwoman once upon a time." Hanawa said simply. He gave Jaune a bow, his head tilted down with respect. "Until we meet again, Jaune."
And with that, Hanawa turned around and walked out the back door, leaving Jaune with his thoughts. Not even the shopkeeper remained – had he, too, been a Gokudo plant? Jaune certainly wouldn't put it past Cinder.
The questions raged in his mind endlessly. To move or not to move? These were just protestors, a group that he had just heard today, and who as far as he knew might be just as legal as anyone else. They weren't an ancient evil, weren't an army of evil beings that constantly tried to destroy humanity.
Hm…
Then that was all they were.
Jaune nodded to himself and stood from his seat. He exited the ramen shop and gave Yang a small nod, smiling a bit as she returned it eagerly too with a smile of her own.
There was no need for to go as hard as he did on this like he did with Salem. His friends could handle themselves… after all, hadn't Yang said so herself?
He had to learn to trust. Had to learn that this wasn't all that scary. That he could put his confidence in his friends, his daughter… that he didn't need to shoulder this burden alone. And, well, if it were just some protesters, some advocates, then he was sure they could handle it.
But still, Jaune felt his fists clench, giving Yang a grin as she laughed and motioned him to ride the bike again.
"Come on, Jauney! Let's hit up Mistral proper!"
"Hm." Jaune smiled – if his friends were happy, if his daughter was safe, then he would be too. "Yeah, let's."
That was all that mattered.
But if the LIFE Group tried anything… then he'd make them understand just who they were messing with.
Beneath the previously locked basement of Haven Academy, seventeen-year-old Jaune stood before a blue, massive ethereal-like figure. She had been hidden, kept beneath its vaults for how many centuries he didn't know, and only through coercing the current Spring Maiden did they manage to free her; a Spring Maiden that had been located, of course, by their reluctant ally of the half-Fall Maiden.
And wasn't that a shock. That Maidens were real…
Jaune still could barely talk, barely form a coherent thought as he stared at this downright proof of magic being shown before him. She seemed like a genie, for a lack of a better word, straight from a childhood fairy tale. She even managed to stop time around him, like a being of pure magic…
The spirit of knowledge. Jinn.
But then, the stares from the tens behind him knocked him out of his stupor. The students of Haven who had heeded his warning… those who fought with him against Leonardo. Those who wanted to know the truth…
Those who remained, after so many had been buried.
"Jinn…" Jaune rolled the words in his tongue. He swallowed his doubts and faced her as he was. As the person who warned them all, the person who led their fight against the treacherous headmaster.
The headmaster had been a person who somehow had some control over the Grimm and were willingly killing them off. A person who, with what limited knowledge Jaune knew, worked for someone that controlled all of them.
But who could that possibly be?
"Tell us, Jinn! Who is the true person behind the Grimm?"
And with his words – on Jaune's emphasis on us – Jinn released her control over stopped time and answered this boy, this strange, unknown boy, his question.
"That would be Salem. The Queen of the Grimm… an immortal who controls all the Grimm from a dragon-shaped island."
Jaune mulled over the answer as the students behind him gasped – as Cinder Fall raised an eyebrow over the answer. Of course, she already knew; she turned turncoat, after all, once he showed her that there was no point in following Leo, following whoever had been issuing their orders. But the others needed their confirmation, and so here they were.
And assuming she was also correct about the other things, that meant that they had two more questions. Two more chances to know vital information.
"And how can we kill her?!" Jaune asked back.
"She was once a human, but is now a being of pure, dark magical energy. And she is an immortal. Killing her by normal means will not work, no matter what weapons you use."
Shit. That was a waste!
He could hear the students panic behind him, hear his allies voice their worry at fighting a battle they couldn't possibly win. After all, how do you beat something that was unkillable?! And Jinn's answers were absolute!
His mind raced as the crowd neared a breaking point – no, they couldn't break now, there had to be a way! There had to be!
And then, his mind reached a conclusion.
"You said she was a being of magical energy…" Jaune said, and he felt a small sense of relief when the crowd settled down and at least decided to hear him out.
Magic, magic…
The Maidens were magic. They weren't immortal, but their powers transferred to another upon their death. This lamp thing was also almost indestructible, and Aura always regenerated when it 'ran out'
Jaune reached a conclusion. Magic would persist; it couldn't be extinguished, it couldn't be killed… but it could be moved.
It could be transformed.
"Then Jinn, tell us…" Jaune whispered. "We want to defeat Salem. To defeat an immortal… then, is there a way for her to be trapped? Is there a way that we can bring the Grimm and her away for good?"
And that question got a smile out of Jinn. This boy, she decided… he was different.
He wasn't a pawn of Ozma, nor was he affiliated with Salem. He acted on his own will, with a fire to protect those close to him. It had been a long time since someone discovered the truth of this world all on their own, and it was nigh time that someone did.
Truth be told, she had seen Ozma's and Salem's battle for thousands of years and had gone tired of the games those old coots played. Perhaps this young man, this anomaly… he would be the changing factor.
She had seen within his heart. The easy answer would be to tell him of the secret of the Silver Eyes. How it can freeze Grimm and had a chance of freezing her too. But that wouldn't be what Jaune wanted, she knew. And besides, that wouldn't kill her; it would only lock her in a petrification. And when her statue shattered, the process would only begin again.
Point being: that wasn't what Jaune had asked.
"Child… yes, there is a way. However, it requires immense sacrifice." Jinn explained, "As you have deduced in your mind, magic is similar to energy. It can not be destroyed, but it can be moved and transformed. The only way for you to defeat Salem is to take her dark magic and those of the Grimm… and scatter it through dimensions… trapping her regenerative state in limbo."
"Then how-!"
"But doing so will require the sacrifice of a soul. To take magic, you must sacrifice magic. The law of equal exchange… and the only magic stronger than a millennia-old curse of darkness is that of a soul who is willing to die for their loved ones."
Jinn let the silence reign, and then…
"And besides… You have reached the limits of three questions." Jinn interrupted, though she did give him a wry smile. It seemed that no matter who it was, they often got lost in their desire for knowledge. "You no longer have the right to ask any more of me."
Jaune lowered his head. No… Damn it, he had failed…
But Jinn had smiled when she saw him. this Jaune Arc fellow… he was new, he was fresh. And as such, she would give him this little tidbit.
"However… I do know what you seek, child." Jin smiled, "So I will give you this. You must head to a separate dimension known as the Ever After. There, you might find a way to harness magic, a way to acquire that power… the answer to your desire."
Jaune raised his head in surprise, his blue eyes meeting Jinn's flickering own as she was absorbed back to the lamp.
"And there…" Jin smiled, "When you stand before a tree… when you see the choices laid bare… there, you will decide your destiny... Jaune of Arc."
And with a final flicker, Jinn disappeared back into her lamp, leaving the basement of Haven filled with nothing but shouts and concerned yells as what remained of the student body panicked.
But amidst it all, Jaune's mind was clear. If that was the only way… then he would do it. He would find wherever this Ever After was and head there, he would learn to control magic, to take that darkness and cast it away, no matter what it costed him.
And after seeing the slaughter that Leo had done…
At seeing the gazes of sorrow as more than half of Haven had been buried earlier today…
Imagining what had happened if this Salem person really had reached Vale…
What would've happened to his friends, to his team…
And when Akane desperately clung to his pants, rushing to him the moment he was done speaking with Jinn, clinging desperately after all the death no soul as young as her should have ever seen…
Jaune clenched his fists, his bloodied armour smelling of iron not his own. Whatever this Ever After was, wherever it may lay…
He would head there immediately.
And there, he would become whatever he needed to be.
Done! Next chapter, Akane's adventures in Beacon. Let me know what you think in the reviews, and I'll see you next time.
Thanks for reading!